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5 Days Ago
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Neophyte
Join Date: May-2008
Location: Cheshire
Country: UK
Posts: 2
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help...bonsai crisis...need advice!
Hi ive been into bonsai for a year or so and i am forever in awe...
it all started with a Serissa Foetida which unfortunately died due to unknown reasons...sad as i was i decided to try my hand at it again...this time with a chinese elm in the hope it would be a little more robust... it has been...ive had it over a year and its doing ok...though the leaves and branches look a little sparse... last thursday (1st May)...i bought another chinese elm...the leaves are tiny and much more in proportion...a lucious waxy green...i am going round reading as much as possible to ensure that these to tree survive... i have kept the soil most...and on friday last i immersed it in a tray of water with bonsai feed for 30 minutes(no higher than pot level...the idea was to let the tree soak it up...i did not immerse it above pot level)... however...worryingly...since sunday the new chinese elm has began to show the dreaded yellow leaves...in fairly large quantities...it shows new growth and new buds are showing up all over the show...but the yellow leaves...what is this all about...(there are no dark spots) ive trawled the internet trying to learn of the reasons, causes and preventions but there seems to be conflicting views...(are these leaves protecting the new bud at the base??) "chinese elms like full sun..." --- "never expose a bonsai to direct sun" etc... since buying the new elm...i let the tree aclimatise to my room (bright position...well ventialted position)...then in the day...i placed it on the window sill where the most sunlight is in the day (removing it at night incase of cold).... the weather here began to imporve significantly...so much so that i thought it would be a good idea to let it breathe a bit of freash air... its been this pattern since buying it... position in my room, ventialted(at night)... window sill if its not sunny or warm out... outside all day in the sun if its sunny... water has been kept moist...fed once since purchase... what is going on...is this normal...i dont want to loose it!! please help a beginner... is the tree going through a natural cycle...am i moving it about too much?? |
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help...bonsai crisis...need advice! |
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5 Days Ago
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#2 |
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Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Carlsbad, California..coastal desert
Country: United States
USDA Zone: 11
Posts: 5,242
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Trees develop roots for a reason. They like to stay put.
 Don't keep the soil wet, let it dry somewhat between waterings. The soil should be dry for the first inch or so, then just moist underneath. You can stick a wooden chopstick into the soil, all the way to the bottom, and pull it up in a few minutes. If it's wet, don't water. Roots that sit in water constantly, are prone to rotting. They can't handle it. Chinese elms are fine drying out a bit.... never completely dry, but somewhat dry. Outside would be better, but if you must keep them inside, try not to move them. You should also check for bugs. Finally, there are some Chinese elms that seem to drop their old leaves all at once, when the new buds push out. It is very possible that this is your situation, but being careful not to overwater, and checking for bugs, will ensure that the tree is healthy going into the future.  If you want to feed a bonsai, organics is a good choice. Search this forum for organic mixes. If you must use chemical ferts (I use them, but would prefer to use organics) then don't immerse the pot into the fertilized water. You need to pour the fertilized water over the pot and let it drain out. Otherwise, you very likely could give it too much fert. What NPK was the fertilizer that you used? Good luck! Joanie
__________________
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" ~ Dave Barry |
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5 Days Ago
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#3 |
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bonsaiTALK Neophyte
Join Date: May-2008
Location: Cheshire
Country: UK
Posts: 2
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hi Joanie
Hi Joanie, thanks for such as fast reply...
on the plus side there is pleanty of new growth and shoots that i can see growing...i shall monitor these to make sure they remain for a little while instead of growing then turning yellow like some of the others... i will try the wooden stick approach... with regards to the way that the watering (with fert) is done...i will make sure i water from the top...not immerse... i cant see any bugs...are they likely to show on the surface...what tell tale signs are there that i should monitor for? i think what im fast learning that the majority of us beginners tend to kill or damage these trees with kindness...the tendancy for me (reflecting) is to water too much...i will work on getting the balance right using the 'stick method' you told me... the fert i use is called: Bonsai Tree Fertilizer (no surprise there lol) by CHEMPAK NPK Fertilizer 10-30-30 DIRECTIONS: says 1 level measure (using the scoop provided into 2 pints of water) thanks for the adivce i will do exactly what you say... and look forward to hearing from you, kind regards, tom |
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5 Days Ago
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#4 |
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Enthusiast
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Carlsbad, California..coastal desert
Country: United States
USDA Zone: 11
Posts: 5,242
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Yes, Tom, we all kill them with kindness at first. Or we forget them for a couple of days and they shrivel up and die. One way or the other.
The road to bonsai glory goes past a pile of dead trees... somehow, we all need to kill a few.Anyway, as far as the bugs, you would probably see them. You might notice changes in the leaf shape, or tunnels inside of the leaves themselves. You might see scale, which looks like little hard oyster shells on the stems or branches. You might see little aphids, or wooly things.... but most likely, with careful monitoring, you would see them. 10-30-30 is pretty high for submerging, so that might have been a problem? Maybe? Some other member may know better. The basic theory is that if the fertilizer salts are saltier than the water content inside of the roots, the roots will send water out instead of pulling it in. That's a dumb way of describing it, but I'm really tired tonight and don't seem to have the energy to do better.  But the bottom line is that if there is too much fertilizer in the soil, it dries out the roots. Simply watering thoroughly, washing away the fertilizer, is the safest way to get rid of the ferts.Even in the best case scenario, elms will struggle to live indoors. You can do it, especially with grow lights and humidity trays, but they will never thrive like they do outside. If you read threads about growing indoors, you will find more information. A cheap fluorescent light, hung close to your trees, may be necessary for their long term survival. Keep asking questions, we all do at first. And don't be too worried about killing your first trees... bonsai is an addiction, and eventually you learn how to keep trees alive, then how to carve them, then how to show and enjoy them to the fullest. It's a long road, but worth walking.Joanie
__________________
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" ~ Dave Barry |
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